Thread: Mexican unmanned drone crashes in backyard of El Paso home

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/16/2010 12:08:45 PM MST


An unmanned drone belonging to the Mexican government crash landed Tuesday in El Paso's Lower Valley, officials confirmed today.

"I was told that it crashed in somebody's back yard, and that no one was injured. I was paged at 6:28 p.m. on Tuesday, so it happened shortly before that. We were told it was not a police matter," said Detective Mike Baranyay, a spokesman for the El Paso Police Department.

The crash occurred at Yarbrough and Loop 375.

Police said the U.S. Border Patrol seized the aircraft, which was to be transported back to one of the international bridges so that Mexican officials could recover the drone.

Read more about this story in tomorrow's El Paso Times.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_16875462?source=rss

What the hell are those idiots doing flying in US airspace?

COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRORIST BOMB ON IT!

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

What the hell are those idiots doing flying in US airspace?

COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRORIST BOMB ON IT!

Why does Mexico have drones flying at all on or near our side of the border?!! These are reconnaissance and/or military applications aren't they?

The next thing we'll find out is our government sold them to them and gave them permission to use them against US.

I can't believe I'm hearing about this here. I haven't seen this news locally YET.
I did just ask my Border Patrol husband about it, he hadn't heard about it either and was very surprised to hear that Mexico even had drones.

However, just like when their soldiers and law enforcement inadvertently or purposely cross the border, it will be excused with no fanfare. Very much unlike when our law enforcement does the same. When ours cross over inadvertently, (and usually because they are chasing a criminal), ours are locked up in jail for an undetermined about of time in Juarez, their personal items seized and their cars and or paraded around like they are some kind of criminals to the Mexican media.

I just checked all of our local TV stations and not even one of them has this story. The newspaper however was the one who put the story out.
I guess the TV stations are far too busy telling everyone how "safe" El Paso is. Our annual Sun Bowl football game is coming up and they seem to be attempting to convince out of towners to come here for that despite all the violence next door. As usual, the power of the tourist dollar is far more important than the truth.

Updated article.

Mexican unmanned drone crashes in backyard of El Paso home

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/16/2010 04:02:06 PM MST

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Tuesday's crash of a Mexican drone in El Paso's Lower Valley.

"We are collecting data about the crash. We don't have the aircraft because it was returned to its owner," said Keith Holloway, spokesman for the NTSB, which investigates aircraft crashes in the United States and in other countries that requests its help.

Holloway said the aircraft that crossed into the U.S. air space is a mini orbiter unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Aeronautics Defense System.

It is designed for use in military and homeland security missions, and is capable of conducting over-the-hill reconnaissance missions, low-intensity conflict and urban warfare operations, and any other related close range mission.

›› View more information about aircraft from Aeronautics Defense System

El Paso Detective Mike Baranyay said "I was told that it crashed in somebody's back yard, and that no one was injured. I was paged at 6:28 p.m. on Tuesday, so it happened shortly before that. We were told it was not a police matter."

The crash occurred after sunset in the yard of a house on Craddock Road, which is in a farm house neighborhood near Yarbrough and Loop 375. The homes in that area have lots of one to two acres.

Baranyay said the U.S. Border Patrol seized the aircraft, which was transported back to one of the international bridges so that Mexican officials could recover it.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command would not comment on the incident, and referred all questions to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_16875462

mini orbiter unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Aeronautics Defense System.

Pictures and info @

http://www.aeronautics-sys.com/orbiter_mini_uav_muas

No info on the

The National Transportation Safety Board site at this time.

http://www.ntsb.gov/

Very odd.

We have 10 or more of our own on the border.

U.S. unmanned aircraft patrol U.S.-Mexico border

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-218907-drones.html